Mark Dodosh Blog

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Predictably, The Indians got killed for the Cliff Lee trade.
As I wrote on Thursday, I don't necessarily agree, but can respect the fans' pining for a winner and the seemingly constant wheel-spinning. (Hey, try being a Pirates fan. Over the last 12 months, they've traded all but one starting position player.)
As has been noted, the four new guys are highly regarded by Baseball America, which rates Carlos Carrasco, Lou Marson and Jason Donald Nos. 2 through 4, respectively, and Jason Knapp No. 10. (Striking out 111 in 85 innings this season is pretty impressive, despite his current injury.)
Still, the near term is going to be messy.
In the meantime, I thought I'd call on a fun resource to offer more insight: My college pal Andy Barch is the play-by-play radio announcer and media relations director for the Class A West Virginia Power, now a Pittsburgh affiliate.
Last year, when the Indians traded CC Sabathia to Milwaukee — an organization to which the Power then belonged before switching this winter — Andy gave SportsBiz a recap of the four new guys, having seen them all up close and personal.
The Phillies' Class A affiliate, the Lakewood (N.J.) BlueClaws, play in the South Atlantic League with the Power (and the Lake County Captains), so I again asked Andy to provide any insights he can offer on the new Indians. Here goes:
I think it's a decent trade because the Indians received four of the Phillies' top 10 prospects. When you can get that kind of quality depth, you're doing something right.
Carrasco: He was extremely impressive when I saw him pitch in 2006; I was blown away by his ability to shut the opposition down. At the time, I thought he was a can't-miss prospect.
But the scouting report on Carrasco says that he lacks a competitive edge, and is prone for big innings when his head isn't right. However, he has great stuff, and he's been successful in the minor leagues. He's currently listed as the second-best prospect in the system, but he's been near the top of that list for the last few years. That's not always a good thing. That kind of reeks of (oft-injured Indians farmhand) Adam Miller to some extent, in that he's a guy that has tons of potential, but hasn't been able to break the ice and go from prospect to big-league contributor.
Marson: When I saw him, I wasn't blown away by anything he did. I thought he was solid at catcher, but his bat didn't show me anything special. Over his career, he's hit for very little power, but his other numbers have improved. Last year, he hit .314 at AA Reading, and had an on-base percentage of .433, which is outstanding. He's got a great reputation when it comes to handling a pitching staff, and though his arm isn't very strong, he grades out above average in every other defensive aspect as a backstop.
Donald: He's performed well as he's gone from one level to the next, and hasn't been greatly affected by the next level of competition; that's the kind of thing you look for in a prospect. The more you read about him, the more you get the feeling he's kind of like a Mark DeRosa. He's on the brink of being an everyday player in the big leagues, and could contribute as early as September.
Knapp: He is an intriguing prospect, because in the end, he may end up being the best player in this deal. I've seen him pitch twice this year, and I came away impressed both times. He's got the kind of things you just can't teach: His fastball will blow you away; it's been clocked by some in triple-digits at times. He struck out 14 in a game earlier this season, but because he's only 19, it will be a while before Tribe fans really can see him contribute where it matters most. There are some concerns with his delivery, which could make him an injury concern down the road if those mechanical problems aren't fixed.
In closing: The Indians weren't going to re-sign Lee after next season, and Ben Francisco is replaceable given their depth in the outfield. While this deal won't excite Indians fans any time soon, I think they got four good players in return, three of which will get a chance to contribute at Progressive Field as early as next year. They aren't winning now, and they probably won't win a lot next year. All in all, it wasn't as bad as people may think.